Canucks' Tanev out 2-3 weeks (groin strain)

Head coach Travis Green said after today's morning skate that the defenceman will be out two to three weeks with a groin strain.

Tanev limped off in the third period of Wednesday's 7-1 loss to the Nashville Predators, playing just one 17-second shift the rest of the way.

The 27-year-old shutdown defenceman missed seven games earlier this season after taking a shot off his hand on Nov. 7. He has two goals and four assists in 25 outings in 2017-18, averaging 20:51 minutes of ice time.

"When guys go down it's opportunity for other guys to step up," said Vancouver defenceman Michael Del Zotto. "It's not easy, especially (Tanev) being the player that he is ... it just magnifies every play that much more."

The Canucks have been ravaged by injury in recent weeks, having lost two thirds of their top line with Bo Horvat (fractured ankle) and Sven Baertschi (broken jaw) out for an extended period.